NOTE: This pattern has been updated as of November 14, 2014. Thanks to Dawn for asking a question that made me realize my stitch count was off! You should cast on any multiple of 4 stitches, not any multiple of 4 plus 2 stitches. I apologize for the error, and the pattern has been edited below to reflect the change!

Back in the late summer, I bought a delightful yarn called Debut at one of my local craft stores, Hobby Lobby. It’s a braided chain yarn made with mostly bamboo and a bit of acrylic, and it is so soft. I grabbed a few skeins of it in a robin’s egg blue shade because I decided right then and there that it should definitely be a scarf, but when I finally sat down to knit one up, I got stuck. Such a pretty wool deserved an interesting stitch. And I was coming up blank.

This is why stitch dictionaries are one of the best things a knitter could possibly have. I paged through the few I have for a while and came across one called the Bamboo Stitch. Perfect, huh? Well, almost - because when I looked at the other stitches on the page, I saw one that looked far more like bamboo reeds than the one they claimed was supposed to, and chose that one instead.

It’s a pretty easy but really interesting looking stitch. The only downside is that because it’s basically stockinette stitch with a little bit of spunk added in, the edges will curl. I used size 15 needles, so I assume making tighter stitches would be even worse. It’s not enough edge curling to bother me (and I actually kind of like it because I’m living under the illusion that when it curls around my neck, it traps some heat), but keep that in mind. For a second one I made a friend, I added 1 stitch of garter on either edge as a way to combat that curling. It still has a slight edge curl, so for a third one I'm in the process of making, I've added two stitches of garter stitch on either end.

Here’s the pattern for the third edition of the scarf I made, with the double garter stitch edging to prevent curling. If you want the curl, add 2 stitches of stockinette on either side instead!

Repeat these four rows until you have used all of your yarn, or until your desired length, and bind off.

Enjoy! As always, please let me know if you see any errors or if you’re having trouble with the pattern. And if you make one, I’d love to see a photo. Email me at msquaredknits@gmail.com, and let me know whether or not I can post it on this blog.